Method of and apparatus for displaying messages on a mobile terminal

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus simultaneously displays the main text and/or more attached filed of a message received in a mobile terminal. This simultaneous display allows a user to confirm the main text and attached files in the message. The main text and attached files may be shown in respective areas of the display.

This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/992,105 filed Nov. 19, 2004. The disclosures of the previousapplications are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless communications, and moreparticularly to systems and methods for displaying messages on a mobileterminal.

2. Background of the Related Art

A message system is a communication scheme for transmitting andreceiving various kinds of data such as letters, etc. between usersthrough one or more communication networks. Users knowing messageaddresses, for example, can transmit and receive messages with otherparties through a wired or wireless Internet. The messages may includemain text and one or more attached files to be transmitted to the otherparty. The attached files may include text files, image files, movingpicture files, sound files, etc. which are independent of the main text.

Messages including one or more attached files are described above can beconfirmed with mobile terminals connected to communication networks.Mobile terminals such as portable mobile phones and personal digitalassistants (PDAs), have been more widely used for confirming messages inrecent times.

FIG. 1 shows how part of the main text of a message including anattached file may be displayed. In this figure, only file names of theattached files are displayed. As shown in FIG. 1, when the message isconfirmed using a mobile phone having a display unit which is muchsmaller than display units of stand-type personal or notebook-typepersonal computers, only the file names of the attached files aredisplayed. Their names can be selected one-by-one to confirm detailsthereof. This method of display and confirmation is troublesome becauseit requires multiple key manipulations.

Also, when an attached file directly related to details of the main textis displayed, it is impossible to simultaneously confirm the main textand the attached file, so there is a disadvantage in that all thedetails of the message and file cannot be understood.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-285047 discloses atechnique of automatically reproducing an attached file included in amessage, but this technique has a problem in that since the main textcannot be simultaneously confirmed even if the attached file isreproduced, the main text and the attached file cannot be simultaneouslyconfirmed.

The above references are incorporated by reference herein whereappropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternativedetails, features and/or technical background.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve at least the above problemsand/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages describedhereinafter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of and anapparatus for displaying a message on mobile terminal, which when amessage sent to an account (message address) of a user is intended to beconfirmed, allows a user to more conveniently confirm the message bysimultaneously displaying main text of the message and an attached fileincluded with the message preferably in respective specified areas of adisplay unit.

In order to accomplish the foregoing objects, according to an aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a method of displaying amessage on mobile phone, comprising a main text of the message; at leastone attached file of the message; a displaying unit simultaneously boththe main text and the attached file.

The method further comprising a converting process of message into asynchronized multimedia integration language (SMIL) file that is set toexecute the attached file and display it at the display unitsimultaneously with the main text; and a displaying process of messagein such way by driving the SMIL file in response to press of the keyindicating the confirmation of the message.

In the converting process the SMIL file is set to allot display area forthe attached file and main text to display the attached file and themain text simultaneously using display-specifying data stored in amemory.

The method further comprises a setting process of user by inputting thedisplay-specifying data to be stored in a memory. The display-specifyingdata may contain inputting data indicating whether a sound file would beexecuted or not, and/or inputting data indicating when the sound file tobe executed. In the converting process if a number of attached fileexceeds that of displaying area to display the attached file allotted bydisplay-specifying data, the attached file is set to be displayedsequentially and rotationally.

The attached file may be set to be displayed sequentially androtationally in response to press of a predetermined key. Alternatively,the attached file may be set to be displayed sequentially androtationally with a predetermined cycle. The predetermined cycle withwhich the attached file is set to be displayed sequentially androtationally is set using the display-specifying data.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description which follows and in part willbecome apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of theinvention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realizedand attained as particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a screen of a related art mobile phoneduring message confirmation.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a structure of amobile terminal of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a screen of the mobile phone to whichthe present invention is applied when confirming a message.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing steps included in the method of displayinga message in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a mobile terminalto which the present invention may be applied, FIG. 3 is a diagramillustrating a screen of the mobile phone to which the present inventionis applied when confirming a message, and FIG. 4 is a flowchartillustrating a procedure of displaying a message in the mobile phoneaccording to the present invention.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is preferably an apparatus for settingmessage data to be displayed in a screen (display unit) when confirminga message with a mobile phone. This apparatus preferably comprises amessage display setting module 70, together with basic elements of amobile terminal.

Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal basically comprises a key inputunit 10. A control unit 20, a radio frequency (RF) transmitting andreceiving unit 30, a display unit 40, a memory 50, a sound processingunit 60, and an e-mail display setting module 70. The key input unitincludes a plurality of numeral keys and functional keys, which outputkey data corresponding to the key pressed by a user. The control unitperforms general operation controls of the mobile phone. The radiofrequency (RF) transmitting and receiving unit carries outamplification, filtering, modulation, and demodulation of RF signalstransmitted and received through an antenna. The memory stores datareceived through the RF transmitting and receiving unit 30 and key datainput through the key input unit 10, and specifically storesdisplay-area specifying data of a message input by a user. The soundprocessing unit carries out modulation and demodulation of sound signalsinput and output through a microphone and a speaker under control ofcontrol unit 20.

The mobile phone transmits and receives a message through a wirelesscommunications network such as the Internet. That is, when a userestablishes an account (message address) in the mobile terminal, theuser confirms messages by inputting an identifier and a password of theaccount.

When a message arrives at the account established in the mobile terminaland a key for confirming the message is pressed, the control unit 20outputs a control signal for displaying the received message in thedisplay unit 40. The message display setting module 70 then converts theformat of the message before displaying the message in the display unitafter the message is received.

The message display setting module 70 sets (converts) display formats ofthe main text and the attached file based on a language such as but notlimited to a synchronized multimedia integration language (SMIL). SMILis an integrated language which can temporally and spatially reproducevarious multimedia data such as text, image, audio, video, etc.

When a message is received, the message display setting module 70specifies the display areas for the main text and attached files, orsets a reproduction time for an audio file when the audio file isattached, and then converts the message to an SMIL file. The controlunit then displays the received message in the display by driving theSMIL files in response to activation of a key indicating confirmation ofthe message by the user.

A message can include main text and at least one attached file.Confirmation of a message includes a main text and a plurality ofattached files which will be now described.

When a message is received, message display setting module 70 specifiesthe attached file to be executed and displayed in the specified displayareas at the display unit simultaneously with the main text.

The message display setting module 70, first, detects display-specifyingdata of the message stored in the memory 50 and then allots a displayarea in accordance with the display-specifying data. For example,display unit 40 may be divided into two or more areas. The main text ofthe message may be displayed in the first area and the attached filesmay be displayed in the second area. Alternatively, the attached filesmay be displayed in the first area and the main text of the message maybe displayed in the second area.

The areas may also be divided up and down or left and right. The usermay input, in advance, the display-specifying data for dividing thedisplay area up and down, or left and right, for the purpose ofconvenient confirmation of the message. The display-specifying datadirectly input by the user are stored in the memory.

When a message is received, display setting module 70 detects thedisplay-specifying data from the memory and allots the display areas ofthe main text and/or the attached file of the message in accordance withthe display-specifying data input in advance by the user.

Input of the display-specifying data may be carried out using apredetermined input menu, and then inputting set values for prepareditems by manipulating of the key input unit relative to the menu.

In the aforementioned example, when two or more attached files areincluded in the message, the number of attached files (corresponding tothe number of areas allotted to display the attached files) aredisplayed and the other attached files are sequentially and rotationallydisplayed.

For example, when the message includes four attached files and thenumber of areas which are allot to display the attached files is two,two attached files are first displayed and the other two attached filesare then sequentially displayed.

When the user first confirms two displayed attached files and then pressa predetermined key, the other attached files are sequentiallydisplayed.

In the mobile phone shown in FIG. 3, the main text of the message isdisplayed in an area indicated by reference numeral 10 and the attachedfiles are displayed in areas indicated by reference numerals 20 and 30.That is, when two or less attached files are included in the message,all the attached files are simultaneously displayed in the display unit.

When two attached files are displayed and when the message includesthree or more attached files, two attached files may be displayed in theareas indicated by reference numerals 20 and 30 and the other attachedfiles may be sequentially and rotationally displayed in the areaindicated by 20 or 30 automatically or in response to press of apredetermined key by the user.

In the areas which are set to display the attached files, image file maybe displayed in the area indicated by 20 and a text file may bedisplayed in the area indicated by 30.

The other attached file is displayed in the area indicated by 20 or 30in the following way. That is, the next attached file may be displayedin the corresponding area with a predetermined cycle, or the nextattached file may be displayed in the corresponding area in response topress of a key or icon indicating display of the next attached file bythe user. The cycle when the next attached file is rotationallydisplayed may be set on the basis of the display-specifying data inputby the user.

The attached file may include text files, image files, moving picturefiles, sound files, etc., and when two or more image files are includedas the attached files it can be set to display the respective imagefiles in the same size.

When a sound file is included as the attached file, the sound file maybe executed at the point in time when a key indicating confirmation ofthe message is pressed. Alternatively, when the execution time of thesound file is set after the message is confirmed in accordance with thedisplay-specifying data, the sound file may be executed in the setexecution time after press of the key indicating confirmation of themessage.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the areas in which the main text andthe attached files of the message may be displayed in the display unit.It can be seen from this figure that the areas can be changed.

Message display setting module 70 can convert the message in asynchronized multimedia integration language (SMIL) in order to specifythe display areas for the main text and the attached files of thereceived message. And, the control unit may display the received messagein the display unit as shown in FIG. 3, by driving the files convertedin the SMIL in response to press of the key indicating the confirmationof the message by the user.

FIG. 4 shows a message display process in a mobile terminal according tothe present invention.

First, a user account is established to transmit and receive messages ina mobile phone, and display-specifying data are input.

When a message arrives at a message address of the account (S10), themessage display setting module detects attached files included in themessage (S20), and also detects the number of display areas allotted bydisplay-specifying data stored in the memory 50.

The message display setting module converts the message into SMIL file,such that if a number of attached files exceeds that of displaying areato display the attached file, the number of attached files which can bedisplayed in the display areas in the display unit is displayed. Then,the other attached files may be sequentially and rotationally displayed.

When an attached file is displayed in a corresponding area, scroll barsmay also be displayed as shown in FIG. 3, and the user can confirm theattached files by moving the scroll bars up and down or left and right.

The message display setting module also determines whether a main textexists, so as to specify the area in which the main text of the messageis to be displayed in the display unit (S40).

When the main text of a text type exists, the display area for the maintext is additionally specified (S50). The main text may be displayed inthe area of the display unit set to display the main text.

As described above, when the key indicating the confirmation of thereceived message is pressed (S60) after the display areas for the maintext and the attached files of the message, the main text and theattached files are displayed in the corresponding areas of the displayunit 40 (S70). The main text and the attached files of the message cantherefore be simultaneously displayed in a screen of the display unitthereby making it possible to more easily confirm the message.

Also, when a message is confirmed using a mobile phone according to thepresent invention, the main text and attached files of the message aredisplayed in the specified areas of the display unit, so that it ispossible to confirm the message at first glance.

In addition, when the main text of the message is related to theattached files, it is possible to more easily confirm the message.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and arenot to be construed as limiting the present invention. The presentteaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. Thedescription of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, andnot to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications,and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In theclaims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structuresdescribed herein as performing the recited function and not onlystructural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

1. A method for displaying information in a mobile terminal, comprising:receiving a message that includes text and at least one attached file;and displaying images associated with the at least one attached filesequentially on a screen of the mobile terminal.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file aredisplayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen of the mobileterminal.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the images associated withthe at least one attached file are automatically displayed sequentiallyand rotationally on the screen of the mobile terminal.
 4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the images associated with the at least one attachedfile are sequentially displayed in response to a predetermined key beingpressed on the mobile terminal.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein theimages associated with the at least one attached file are sequentiallydisplayed according to a predetermined cycle.
 6. The method of claim 5,wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.7. The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.8. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustablebased on control information stored in the mobile terminal.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein said displaying includes: simultaneouslydisplaying the text and the images associated with the at least oneattached file on the screen of the mobile terminal.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein said displaying includes: displaying the text and theimages associated with the at least one attached file in screen areasallotted based on display-specifying data.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the display-specifying data is input by a user using an inputmenu.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the text is displayed in afirst area and the images are displayed in a second area of the screenof the mobile terminal.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:changing areas of the screen where the text and images are to bedisplayed.
 14. The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying includes:simultaneously displaying images associated with at least two attachedfiles on a screen of the mobile terminal.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the images associated with the at least two attached files aredisplayed in different areas of the screen of the mobile terminal.
 16. Amethod for controlling a mobile terminal, comprising: receiving amessage that includes text and a plurality of attached audio files; andplaying the plurality of attached audio files sequentially through aspeaker when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the predetermined condition is when the message isopened.
 18. The method of 16, wherein the predetermined condition isexpiration of a set execution time after the message is opened.
 19. Themethod of claim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files areautomatically played sequentially through the speaker.
 20. The method ofclaim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially playedin response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobile terminal.21. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of audio files aresequentially played according to a predetermined cycle.
 22. The methodof claim 22, wherein the predetermined cycle is set by a user of themobile terminal.
 23. The method of claim 23, wherein the predeterminedcycle is adjustable
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein thepredetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored inthe mobile terminal.
 25. A mobile terminal, comprising: a screen; areceiver to receive a message that includes text and at least oneattached file; and a controller to control display of images associatedwith the at least one attached file sequentially on the screen.
 26. Themobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the images associated with the atleast one attached file are displayed sequentially and rotationally onthe screen of the mobile terminal.
 27. The mobile terminal of claim 26,wherein the images associated with the at least one attached file areautomatically displayed sequentially and rotationally on the screen ofthe mobile terminal.
 28. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein theimages associated with the at least one attached file are sequentiallydisplayed in response to a predetermined key being pressed on the mobileterminal.
 29. The mobile terminal of claim 25, further comprising: amemory to store control information indicative of a predetermined cyclefor sequentially displaying the images of the at least one attachedfile.
 30. The mobile terminal of claim 29, wherein the predeterminedcycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.
 31. The mobile terminalof claim 29, wherein the predetermined cycle is adjustable.
 32. Themobile terminal of claim 31, wherein the predetermined cycle isadjustable based on control information stored in the mobile terminal.33. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the controller controlssimultaneous display of the text and images associated with the at leastone attached file on the screen.
 34. The mobile terminal of claim 33,wherein the controller controls display of the text and imagesassociated with the at least one attached file in screen areas allottedbased on display-specifying data.
 35. The mobile terminal of claim 34,wherein the display-specifying data is input by a user using an inputmenu.
 36. The mobile terminal of claim 33, wherein the text is displayedin a first area and the images are displayed in a second area of thescreen.
 37. The mobile terminal of claim 36, wherein the controllerchanges areas of the screen where the text and images are to bedisplayed.
 38. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein the controllercontrols simultaneous display of images associated with at least twoattached files on a screen of the mobile terminal.
 39. The mobileterminal of claim 38, wherein the images associated with the at leasttwo attached files are displayed in different areas of the screen.
 40. Amobile terminal, comprising: a screen; a receiver to receive a messagethat includes text and at least one attached file; and a controller tocontrol simultaneous display of the text on the screen and playing ofaudio associated with the at least one attached file through a speakerwhen a predetermined condition is satisfied.
 41. The mobile terminal ofclaim 40, wherein the predetermined condition is when the message isopened.
 42. The mobile terminal of 40, wherein the predeterminedcondition is expiration of a set execution time after the message isopened.
 43. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the plurality ofaudio files are automatically played sequentially through the speaker.44. The mobile terminal of claim 40, wherein the plurality of audiofiles are sequentially played in response to a predetermined key beingpressed on the mobile terminal.
 45. The mobile terminal of claim 40,wherein the plurality of audio files are sequentially played accordingto a predetermined cycle.
 46. The mobile terminal of claim 45, whereinthe predetermined cycle is set by a user of the mobile terminal.
 47. Themobile terminal of claim 45, wherein the predetermined cycle isadjustable.
 48. The mobile terminal of claim 47, wherein thepredetermined cycle is adjustable based on control information stored inthe mobile terminal.